Scarlett Keeling case: Prime witness wants lookout notice lifted

Panaji (Goa), May 9 (ANI): The prime British witness in the Scarlett Keeling murder case, Michael Mannion, reportedly plans to approach the Panaji Bench of the Bombay High Court to seek withdrawal of a lookout circular issued against him by Goa Police. Mannion, who has already deposed before a magistrate here, had said he saw one of the accused, Samson D’Souza, laying on the 15-year-old British girl whose body was found on Anjuna beach on February 18. Mannion has been in the country since, as police have refused to lift the circular against him. He was amongst the witnesses who were present at the shack hours before Scarlett’s bruised body was found. “I have made representation to the Goa Police to lift the circular. If they fail to do so, he will move to the court within the next one or two days,” Vikram Varma, Mannions lawyer, said on Friday. Varma said he would move the court under Articles 21 and 14 of the Constitution. “Article 21 refers to life and liberty while Article 14 deals with equality before law,” he said. Varma argued the circular restrained his client’s liberty to move out of the country and also he was not being treated like other witnesses. (ANI)